By DAILYSPORTS NIGERIA on September 5, 2022

Already, this columnist had researched and settled for entirely different discussion though still on the forthcoming elective congress of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, until those who called themselves Northern Caucus made a declaration that Amaju Pinnick has used Southern Nigeria tenure.

After thorough analysis of the implication it portends for the growth of the game in the country one, saw it as an obligation to call this so called Northern Caucus to order and also to remind them that NFF is not and cannot be seen as an extension of larger Nigerian politics which has been so polluted that merit and industry hold no water.

Note that it is against this sad background therefore, the sad experience Nigerians are going through in larger Nigerian political arena should never be allowed to find its way into our football administration as such would be more dangerous to the entire citizenry who have found solace in the game as way out of the mess the ruling party All Progressives Congress APC government has put Nigerians in since 2015.

Categorically, I state that this so called northern caucus of the federation is an ill-wind to our already dying football. They are bad news to our football already lying in comatose. This Northern Caucus of the federation is acting a script the enemies of the game who want it destroyed like politics in Nigeria today that has proved to be the worst thing which has happened to Nigerians especially since Buhari and his deceitful gang came to power and turned everything achieved by the previous governments upside down which is worrisome leaving Nigeria in huge debt burden.  

The mission of this Northern Caucus in the federation is simply sinister if their utterances are anything to go by. In short, it portends danger ahead. Their sponsors are not far fetched. They are stooges and spoilers of the first and worst order and so patriotic stakeholders must not take this threat just like one of such.

These people and their sponsors want to bring confusion into football administration in the country. Let me be honest with you that nationals, be it male or female teams have almost fielded one sided squad meaning, from one side of this country almost all the time because it is impossible and unreasonable for a nation with sane people to field her second eleven in any football match when the first eleven are on the bench.

The outbursts by this Northern group in the federation smacks of irresponsibility and blackmail to box others into a corner. Let me make it known here that such nonsense is not exclusive to them. It portrayed them as cheap and display of people crusading for what the stomach can eat.

These people talk before thinking. Their declaration is divisive in nature and must be stoutly condemned by well meaning fans of this beautiful game in most strong terms. They are simply enemies of the game. You need not look too far to arrive at that conclusion.

It is destabilizing and is bent on bringing full blown tribal politics in Nigerian football. That inglorious path if allowed, would spell doomsday for the only sport which knows no tribe. A sport causes cease fire to be observed by warring combatants in fierce war fronts around trouble spots areas of the World.

They are guilty judging from their dripping tribal discourse. They are frustrated lot who does n’t have any atom of love for the sport. They are there for what they can grab especially from involving themselves in hatchet man’s jobs. But these elements must be called to order. They must be reminded in clearer terms that football does not know North and South a term that have been used to destroyed and dismember Nigeria in the name of politics.

This Northern caucus in the federation must be shut down. They are loafers who only thrive in using North/South dichotomy to divide this country the more.    

The election to usher in a new president and other executive committee members for four-year tenure will hold in Benin City, Edo State on September 30.

It would be recalled that over 11 contestants still counting are in the race to take over the seat currently occupied by Amaju Pinnick administration. They include first Vice President of the NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi, Chairman of Chairmen, Ibrahim Gusau, former NFF Secretary, Musa Amadu, CAF Director, Security, Christian Emeruwa, former Super Eagles goalkeeper and Media Officer, Peterside Idah, former player, Benedict Akwuegbu, former SWAN President and General Manager, Heartland FC, Fan Ndubuoke, former Director, NSC and Current Chief of Staff to Sports Minister, Abba Yola, former player, Jonathan Akpoborie and former NFF board member, Chief Amamze Uchegbulam. Let it be clearly understood that this columnist is against this so called Northern Caucus in the federation and describes it as that of lazy short sighted, unpatriotic to the core, in short, they are not team players. They are saboteurs all and also will be safe to declare them lame docks.

Another stakeholder, Ahmed Gara Gombe, is said to be watching the terrain before declaring his interest in the election.  

The truth is that many sound football administrators are in the race for the topmost NFF job and my response to all these remains that all other aspirants should give way to one who is updated in the scheme of modern day football administration.

No matter from whichever angle you may be looking at it from, he ought to be a well sort after bride of football administration in Nigeria waiting to happen.  All the others should queue into being elected as executive committee members who would move Nigerian football forward as good team players.

The assertion by the northern caucus, a group which is fighting to install a northerner as the next NFF President, last week that all the candidates from the South should forget their ambition is baseless and uncalled for.

That incumbent President, Pinnick’s second tenure has made another southern President impossible as a call from the blind men who do not see beyond their noses which have further exposed them to the reality and fact that they are not even qualified or fit to be in a supposedly reverend NFF. Pulse it, the rantings of this group remains nonsensical and must be dismissed with wave of the hand. Their claim remains not tenable. This is not what we need in our football now. Their tribal disposition on who becomes the next supremo to many close watchers of the game in the country as one coming from idlers.

In short, they are jobless, if you like touts in the football House pretending to be one job or the other. Let me confess here that tribal politics has put devastating wedge on Nigeria today.  It has retarded her growth in the comity of nations making her laughing stock even to smaller countries that Nigeria play big brother role for their sake. They are all destroyers and so nobody who has the interest and well being of football in the country should listen to such rebels’ elements who are for sale to the highest bidder to cry loudest that there is wolf where there is none.

Therefore, we say no to such in our football administration arena. Competence must be the watch word. 

This Northern Caucus in the federation said that Pinnick’s second tenure is for candidates from the south. It is the turn of the north to produce the NFF President and we will get it, who told these ill-informed people that there is something like TURN by TURN to become NFF President. Such silly utterances by this group of Northern elements show their limited knowledge of how football should be governed.  You don’t do things that way. This singular act ridiculed them into public limelight as group of pretenders who does not know their left from right.  

The Northern caucus is said to be working underground to have a consensus candidate from the zone. Such will not help our football which Amaju Pinnick and his group has slowed down drastically. Look at CHAN Eagles latest victim of maladministration though I’m not fan to Salisu Yusuf its current handler.

Just read these peoples’ arrogance and undemocratic reasoning “We will resist any attempt by any candidate from the south to replace Pinnick in the coming election. We are also working on the possibility of presenting the most qualified person to take over Nigerian football,” The group sounds unsportsman like instincts.

 Yes, Pinnick was first elected into office in 2014 in Warri, got a second tenure during the polls held in Katsina in 2018. However, he became the first Nigerian to occupy the office for two consecutive terms and we have seen his current report card.

I will not describe the statement by this group as being worrisome rather they are acting the script written by their pay master (s). They have been known for being hungry to grab power even in the larger Nigeria and we have seen the resultant effects so far. When the system got spoilt, that is when they will quickly reach out for a Southerner who will work assiduously to repair and reverse or clear their mess.

Daily Sports would always stand by truth and pursue such vigorously too. No more, no less.

Keep shooting hard till next week. Meanwhile we wait!!  

Source DAILYSPORTS NIGERIA

Posted September 5, 2022

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